Trent at The Simple Dollar offers some great advice this week on how to keep your spending under control. In The Buying Decision, he writes that you should always know what you're going to buy before you enter a store. I couldn't agree more. I always make a list before going to the grocery store. I never go to the mall just to browse -- I go because my kids or I need a specific item. This helps me stick to a budget. As Trent writes, "Shopping costs you money. Shopping without a very specific purpose really costs you money."
For more advice on spending wisely, here are some tips from around the Web:
Does Having Multiple Bank Accounts Encourage Overspending? [Mint.com]
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"If you keep your eye on the total account balance rather than the balance of each individual account, it’s harder to talk yourself into hasty spending."
Does Online Shopping Change Our Spending Choices? [Man vs. Debt]
"We’ve made consuming so easy that we do it without even thinking."
5 Tips to Find the Best Online Shopping Discounts Using Coupon Codes [Money Crashers]
"Though coupon codes can save you money, you need to be smart about how you use them."
You Can Never Do It All, So Don’t Waste Money Trying [SavingAdvice.com]
"If you pursue your hobby to the exclusion of everything else that life has to offer, you’re quickly going to find yourself broke and without meaningful relationships."
8 Ways to Buy Jeans on the Cheap [Wise Bread]
"Cheap jeans are out there, for sure -- you just have to know where to look."
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